Raytheon awarded SeaVue radar contract

Raytheon Co., in McKinney, Texas, is being awarded a $25 million contract for the procurement of Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) AN/APS-148 SeaVue radar system components, engineering services, spares and repairs.

The MPRA is the primary maritime surveillance aircraft operated by the Navy. Functions and duties include anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare; command, control, communications, computer, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance; search and rescue; drug interdiction; and exclusive economic zone protection.

The work will be performed in McKinney, Texas, and is expected to be completed by September 2020. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Indiana, managed the contract award.

Raytheon facility addition will support growth in electronic warfare systems

Raytheon Company completed a 20,000-square foot addition to its factory in Forest, Miss., already one of the biggest in the state. The extra room will allow the company to support anticipated growth in airborne radar and electronic warfare systems.

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant said in a ribbon-cutting ceremony: "The company chose to expand here in anticipation of future growth, and now Raytheon is ready to move ahead and pursue even more opportunities and contracts."

Raytheon plans to add a number of new positions over time to keep pace with orders for its Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) fighter jet radars and Sentinel air defense radars. The company is the only manufacturer with combat-proven AESAs in production for tactical aircraft.

Air Force awards contract for new expeditionary radar

The U.S. Air Force awarded Raytheon Company a $19.5 million contract for engineering and manufacturing development of a new expeditionary radar that will detect, identify and track drones, missiles and aircraft. The total contract, including all options, is currently estimated at $71.8 million and includes the procurement of an additional three radar systems, for a total of six radar systems and product support. The radar, called the Three Dimensional Expeditionary Long Range Radar, or 3DELRR, is one of the first programs under the Department of Defense's Better Buying Power initiative to be designed for exportability, enabling U.S. forces, allies and security partners to benefit from the system.

Raytheon's 3DELRR system is a gallium nitride (GaN)-based radar that operates in the C-band of the radio frequency spectrum. By using GaN, Raytheon was able to affordably increase the radar's range, sensitivity and search capabilities. C-band also offers the military increased flexibility because that portion of the spectrum is relatively uncongested.

3DELRR will replace radars, such as the Vietnam-era AN/TPS-75, which are no longer able to keep pace with current and emerging threats.

Swanson to retire from Raytheon

The Board of Directors of Raytheon Company has elected Thomas Kennedy, 59, chairman effective Oct. 1. Kennedy will replace William Swanson, Raytheon's current chairman of the board. Swanson is retiring from the company Sept. 30.

Swanson has served as chairman of the board since January 2004. He joined Raytheon Company in 1972 and has served in a wide range of leadership positions, including as the company's chief executive officer from July 2003 to March 2014.

Kennedy succeeded Swanson as chief executive officer of Raytheon in March. Kennedy previously served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of Raytheon from April 2013 to March 2014, and as vice president of Raytheon Company and president of Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, one of the company's four operating businesses. He has worked for Raytheon in a number of positions with increasing responsibility for more than 31 years.